Shirt body pressing machine



May 1, 1956 l.. N. STRIKE:

SHIRT BODY PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May l1, 1953 mwN Cttorneg May 1, 1956 L N. STRIKE SHIRT BODY PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1l, 1953 3 mm1 tor Gttorneg May 1, 1956 Filed May ll, 1955 1 N. STRIKE 2,743,854

SHIRT BODY PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 nnentor Gttomeg May 1, 1956 L. N. STRIKE SHIRT BODY PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May ll, 1953 i. u u.. l..

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(ttorneg May l, 1956 1 N. STRIKE SHIRT BODY PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May ll, 1953 I MMN WSN

:inventor Gttorneg United States Patent 2,743,854 SHIRT BODY PRESSING" MACHINE LonisN. strike, Salt Lake-city, Utah Application May 11, 1953, soi-ial'No. 353,979 9 claims. (ci. z'fzaaesvjlfrom dressing to pressing position, couple the buck to a source of compressed air while in the latter position tov both distend and dry and press out the sides and the yoke of the shirt,ibring a pair of steam-heated pressing platens into pressing engagement with the front and back of the shirt While in said pressing postion, and, nally, either by a push on a second'contro'l button o1" by operation of time-control means, separating. the platens and returning the buck to dressing position. A

In the interest of simplicity, the front and back ofthe buck are flat, enabling Hatl draping of the front and back of the shirt thereornand the pressing platens are also at so as to have pressing' engagement only with. the hat faces of the buck. Therefore, the sides and yoke of the shirt are not engaged by the platens. In order that these latter parts of the shirt be ironedin a wrinkle-free manner and, moreover, to insure thorough ironing of the shirt yoke which is usually of two plies of material, it is another object ofv the invention to provide the buck with side and yoke distendable or inflatableand` air-pervious members and to introduce into said members;y while the front and back of the shirt arebeing pressed by the platens, heated air at a suitably high pressure that' will pass through said members and the portions'of the shirt held distended thereby to iron the Iatter portions from within as eiectively as if ironed or pressed by an ontwardly applied heated platen.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved method forv ironingA a' shirt or similar garment in which portionsare pressed' by otitwardly appliedv heated platens against a buck onk which the garment is draped, and other portions are ironedfrom within by application of heated air that simultaneously distends the latter portionsk and passes therethrough.

inasmuch as the pressing platens apply pressure'to the front and back of the shirt that obviates displacement thereof, it is a further object of the invention tov preinate the distendable portions of4 the" buc'k immediately before the platens are applied to achieve a Wrinkle-free condition of the sides and yoke of the" shirt and, then, after the platensare moved into pres'singpositi'on, to fully inflate said distendable portions toiron the same from within, as above indicated. i

A still further object" of the invention is to` provide novel and improved meanstoreciprocate a blick between dressing and pressing positions and, farther, to; provide a simple free-running buck-mounted carriage' that, except for support and guide means', is vdi's'connec't'ed fromv the machine While in' motion between its dressing and' p'res'sing positions:

The inventioiralso has" for its objects to'provide'l sach 2,743,854 Patented May 1, 1956 ce l 2 means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and ofy general superiority andserv-iceability.

The invention also comprises novel detailsof construc tion and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. n However, the drawings `merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

Inthe drawings, like reference characters designate similarv parts in the several views.

Fig. l is an elevational view of a garment-pressinglrnachine according to the present invention; the 'samebeing shown from they side opposite to the' operators side of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. zo

Fig. 3'is a vertical sectional view as taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and5 are plan sectional detail views, one below the other, of the middle right end of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1 with the buck-mounted carriage in position between the pressing platens and preparatory to moving of said platens to pressing position.

rFig. 7 is a similar sectional'view as taken on line 7 7 of Fig. l, showing, however, only the operators side of the' machine.

Fig. 8 is a similar View as taken on-line 8 8 of Fig. l and showing" the opposite" side of the portions shown in Fig. 7, the' pressing platen that is shown being in pressing` position against" the Buck.

Fig. 9 is jan enlarged detail 'sectional view of the parts shown in the' upper portiony of Fig. 8.

i Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan sectional view as taken on line 10-10 of'Fi'g. l and `showing the buck-mounted carriage in pressing position.

Fig. 11 is a siniilarlyenlarged" vertical sectional view as taken" on line 11-11 of Fig. l.

Fig. 12` is a'iragriienfary sectional view of a valve shown in Fig. 11.

Fig'. 13 is a' longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of coupling means' connecting pressing air to the buckrnounted carriage when thev latter is in pressing position.

Fig. 14 isv a schematic View of the eontrol and operating elements of the machine;

In this specification' and in the appended claims, the term shirt is intended to include similar garments whether or not' they have sleeves.

Thev shirt-body pressing machine' that is illustrated comprises, generally, a rigid frame 20 that has track nie-ans 21 as part thereof', a carriage z'zlmounted on and movable alongv said track means, means 23 to latch the carriage in shirt-dressing position at one' end of frame 20, a bc'k 24 mounted on the carriage, means 25 t'o releasably clamp the tails'o'f a' shirt draped on said buck, means ze to propelv the carriage from' its dressing to a pressing position, means 2'7 to provide a supply of heated air to the Buck 24, means 248 to c'ou'ple the air-sil'p'plying means 27 to' the carriage 22, means 29"t` co1`1`ple said air-supplying' means to the upper end ofthe buch24, means 30 tov release a buck-distending supply of airrfrorn the' means 27 through the` coupling means 25 andl 293v as the' carriage and buck arrive'at the pressing position, rneans 3'1 to lock the carriage iny pressing4 position, a pair' of normally separated pressing plate'ns 32 mounted on'. the frame', means 33- to move theL normally separatedV platens toward each other when tIie'difessed-bucle positioned therebetween to efec't ironing of the front and back of a shirt,l draped onl the tinck, 34 controlled hy thei platennnoving means to members 40 to a relatively higher frame portion.

lattercomprises front and back frame parts 43 (Fig. 6)

provide a supply of ironing air to the buck to press those portions of the shirt that are not engaged by the pressing platens, a sourqe of compressed air 35, a controlling system 36 to provide air from said source to operate the means 26, 30,31, 33 and 34, means 37 to propel the carringe from pressing position back to its dressing position, yand a controlling system 38 to provide air from said source to operate means 37 and also restore the means 26, 30,31, 33 and 34 to their initial condition preparatory too-repetition of the cycle of operation of the machine.

The frame is shown as comprising a relatively low end frame portion comprised of vertical members 40 connected at their upper ends by a cross member 41, and

a pair of longitudinal base members 42 extending from The of rectangular form, each said part comprising longitudinally spaced vertical members 44 and an intermediate member 45v rigidly connected to members 44 byy upper longitudinal members 46 and intermediate members 47. The lower base portions of members 44 are connected by longitudinal'members 48. These frame parts 43 are connected by upper and lower transverse members 49 and byv an intermediate transverse member 50 that is at the level of cross member 41 (see Figi).

The track means 21 is shown as comprising a pair of parallel horizontal transversely spaced tubes or pipes 51 carried at their ends by members 41 and S0 and extending therebetween.

The higher frame portion is provided with a longitudinal extension that is comprised of vertical members 52 connected at the ends of extensions of members 46 and 49 and further braced by intermediate longitudinad members 52a.

Formed in the above manner, frame 20 has a relatively low buck-dressing station portion 53 at one end, a relatively higher pressing station portion 54 at the middle, and a mounting portion 55 for the heated air-supplying means 27 at the opposite end, the track means 21 being common to station portions 53 and 54.

The carriage 22 comprises a body 56 arranged to span between tracks 51 and to be supported thereon bywheels 57. The carriage body 56 xedly mounts a longitudinal y Lenter between ends and to be resiliently and releasably held tohold the carriage in buck-dressing position.

- The buck 24 is iixedly carried by the carriage 22 and extends upwardly from tube S8 in the plane of the longitudinal center of said tube. Said buck comprises a generally at perforated hollow cone 67 that is closed at its upper end 68 (Fig. 8) and open to the interior of tube 58, asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A layer or pad of steel wool or similar porous and resilient material 69 is applied over the opposite sides of perforated core 67 and the same is covered with a fabric layer 70 of tine mesh material, of which nylon fabric is an example. lt will be clear from the foregoing that air introduced into tube 58 will enter the hollow of the core and pass through the perforations thereof and through the pores of pad 69 and the interstices of fabric cover 70.

The height of this padded core is such that a shirt closed tubular shirt-side pressing members 72 that are connected at 73, at their lower ends, to tube 58. Said tubular members 72 may be connected to the lateral edges of the buck core by suitable spaced tack points and serve as inflatable flanking side extensions of said core. Nylon fabric is preferred as the material of which said tubular members are made, the ne interstices of this fabric permitting passage of air supplied by tube 58 to the sides of a shirt draped thereover. Thus, a shirt draped on the buck has its sides held in extended and wrinkle-free condition by tubular members 72 and is subjected to the inwardly applied ironing force of thie heated air introduced into tube 58.

Shirt-side spreading bars 74 may be pivotally carried by the sides of the buck core as on arms 75. After draping the shirt on the buck, the operator may outwardly extend these bars by depressing handles 76 to outwardly stretch the shirt sides and remove any deep creases there may be in said sides. These bars may then be returned to collapsed position closely adjacent the core edges.

Alongits lupper end, the buck is provided with an endclosed tubular yoke-pressing member '77 which has a central air inlet tube 78 afxed to a collar-clamping form 79 provided on? the core4 and extending forwardly from the face of the buck against which the shirt-front is applied. The form 79 is generally conventional and is here used to support tube 78. Tubular member '77 is made of the same material as are tubes 72 and by suitable tacks 80 is affixed to the padded core so that introduction of heated air through tube 7S results in inflation thereof as shown best in Fig. 9. The closed ends 81 of tubular member 78 extend laterally beyond the side edges of the core, as best seen in Fig. l, and are held extended by ilexible arms S2 which are pneferably angularly upwardly directed. It will be noted that tube ends 81 together with arms 82 serverto support the yoke of a shirt to the arm holes therein and that the extending portions of said arms 82 support the shirt sleeves adjacent said arm holes. The remainder of thesleeves may hang pendent oli the ends ci arms 82.

" The form of tubular member 77 is made so as to conform, when inated, to the downward slope, from the middle outward, of a shirt yoke and so that such yoke is subjected to the inwardly applied ironing force of lheated air introduced into tube 78 and which inilates tube 77.

As will be seen from the foregoing, buck 24 essentially comprises a rigid core having compressible and porous faces, and inflatable side and yoke portions. While it is preferred to form member 77 separate from members 72 and to provide an independent introduction of heated air into said member 77, it will be obvious that a single tubular member extending along the sides and across the top of the core may be used and that the heated pressing air may be introduced only through tube 58. The reason for the indicated preference is that a shirt yoke is usually made of two plies of material and either requires longer pressing time or greater heat than is applied to the singleply shirt sides. By a separate introduction of heated air to member 77, air may be used in this member at a higher temperature than in members 72 so that the pressing time for the double-ply yoke and the single-ply sides will be the same and the timing of the pressing cycle facilitated accordingly.

The means 25 is shown as a clamp member 85 on the end of an arm 86 on a shaft 87, and clamp plate members 88 on a shaft S9. Clamp members 85 and 88 are on opposite sides of the buck, as best seen in Fig. 3, as are their-mounting shafts 87 and 89.

Arm 86 constitutes one arm of a bellcrank lever 90 that is connected to a link 91 which extends through the carriage body 56. Clamp plate 88 constitutes an arm of a bellcrank lever 92 which extends through buck core 67 in the same direction as lever and is connected to a link 93 which also extends through carriage body 56. Since lever arms 9l1and 92l arel on the same sideof'th'e carriage andl shafts 87 and' 89 on opposite sides, an upward push" on link 91'I `i's required to press clamp. member' SS'against one face" of the buck and' a downward'pull ouI link 93 is required' to press clamp plate 88 against the opposite face of the buck. y

Treadle-operated means are provided onthe operators side of ythe'ma'chine` toeife'ct suchv clamping movement of members 85 and 88. To push upwardly on link 91 there is'prov'ided a treadle 94 pivoted at 95 and held raised by a spring 96 anchored. at'its upperv end to a strap frame 97. A. bell'crank. lever 98,' pivoted at' 99 to said frame`97', has ou'e arm connected by a link 100 to said treadlev and the other arm engaged with and. adapted to raise a link pusher 101 that is vertically aligned with link 91 when the carriage i's'in dressing position. To pull' downwardly' on link 93 there is provided a second treadle 102, also pivoted4 at 9S and held raisedl by' a spring 103 anchored at its upper end to a strap frame 104. A puller link 105. is connected to treadle 102,v extends upwardly through frame 104,.. and is provided at its upper end with a bifurcated yoke 106-aligued with link 93. Said link extends through the bifurcation in said yoke and has a head 107 on' the lower end thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that depression of'treadle 94 will move clamp member 85 to clamping po# sition by pushing, up onV link 9'1 and that depression of treadle 102 will move clamp plate 88 to clamping. position by pulling, down on the head 107 of link 93`.v Since pusher 101 and link 91 are normally disconnected and the bifurcation' in yoke 106 is laterally open, the carriage may be moved toward pressing position, after the clamp members- 85 and S8 have been operated. By passing. links 91 and 93 through suitable apertures 'y in levers 108 that are pivoted at 109 and weighted. at their free ends 110, said links are. frictionally latched or clutched by said levers 108 to retain the clamping positions thereofl In. order to clamp the tails of. a shirt draped over the buck the operator need merely depress treadl'es 94 and 102 since levers 108elect automatic clutching of links 91. and 93 to retain. clamping position. of clamp members 85 and 88.. This position. is retained during movement of the carriage to pressing position. Only after the carriage hasA returned to its initial position will the' clutch. levers 108'be raised so as to efrect. release4 of links 91 and 93 and of the clamping members 85 and 88. ToY this: end, a cam 111, carried on a bar 112`from` cross member 41, is placed. in. the path ofmovement off the Weighted end. of levers 108 to raise the samek on. their pivots 109. Cam 111 is mounted'to depress when.` the leversv 108 move therepast toward pressing. position so as not.' 'to' disturb the; clutching engagement. with links 9,1 and 93, andy not. to depress upon return movement ofthe carriage to effect automatic declutching. In any case, weights 110 may be manually flippedup after return of the carriage and-cam 111 dispensed with. The-means 26- comprises. an air cylinder 113 provided with a piston 114 having a stem 115` that is-directedtoward the pressing station of the machine., A pusher. head ll-.isprovided on the end of said stem. It will be clear that admission of. pressure fluid into cylinder 113 will causefprojection'of stem 115 and that the'head 116 thereof will strike against the'carriage bodyk 56 and propell said carriageand the dressedbuck thereon alongtrack means 21. rEhe means 26y is bestseen in Figs.. l', 5 and 14;

They means 27 that supplies heated air that is used in the buck 24 is shown at the left end of Fig. 1- auch. in part,- inrFigs. l1 and 12. Said means 27 is shown as comprising an. air compressor 120 connected by a. suitable drive 121 to an electric motor 122.v Said compressor is provided with an air inlet 123, that is preferably tted. with an air cleaner 124, and with an air outletl 125` that' conair'corhpress'ed by the' compressor'to a valve 126.

b`ypass` conduit 127' by-pa'ssesv the' compressor to directly connect air inlet 123 and" valve' 126;- 'Ihe' valve 1267'is providedI with a.'l compressed air outlet' 128 that enters a tank' 129'prcwided with conventional means' 130 toheat' the air suppliedl thereto. Tank 129isrprovided with an` outlet 1'31'.

Valve 126` has threel ports connectingA respectively to the outlet th-omthe compressor, the by-pass 127, and the outlet 128.y Said" valvev is provided with a port-con'- trolling vane 132,', on a shaft" 133, which normally closes outlet 128. Accordingly, until said'vane is moved the air compressed by compressor 120' is circulated through by-pass 127. Uponmovi'ngsaid' vane to wholly' open outlet'128'1or partially open the same, compressed air enters tank 129Y and then exits from outlet 131. During partial opening' of outlet 128, a" relatively small flow of' compressedair enters tank 129,. the remainder circulating in by-pass 127. v

The meansl 28, best seen in Fig. 13, elects' coupling of" air outlet 131 Vand' tube'58' on carriage22. When the latter'is` propelled to pressing position, the llanged end 60 of tube 58' telescopicallyv engagesan extension 134 on a 't'ting 1'35' telescopicallytted in the end of outlet 131. A ange 136 on fitting 135 is engaged by an'ge 60 and effect's contraction of a. set of springs 137 that normally project' said fitting, toward tube 58'. I'n this manner, a resilient and effective' coupling between air outlet 131 and tube 58 is made, when the carriage is' at pressing position, to provide the core 67 and tubes 72 of the buck 24 with heated air from tank 129.

The means 29,. best seen in Figs. 6 to 9, eiiects coupling of aii: outlet 131 and tubular member 77 ofy buck 24. When the carriage is propelled to pressing position, the' forwardly-directed tubev 78' of said' member 77 is brought into alignment withv the tlanged'end 140 of a pipe 141 that has a flexible portion 142 connected to au auxiliary air-heating tank 143'. The latter is connected by'a conduit 144' with outlet 131 and' is provided with its own air-heatingrneans 145 of conventional form. In thisv manner, heated air from'tank 129 issupplied to auxiliary tank 143, further heated therein, and discharged from flanged' end' 140 of pipe 141..

'Ihe means 29 further includes a suspender 146 which is' mounted'oncross member 49 of' the frame and is connected'to pipe 141. Sai'd suspender is shown as an articulated` parallel'ogram adapted' to swing in av transverse plane so that the angjed end' 140 ofl pipe. 141 may be brought into. and out of' engagement with the open end of tube 78 when the buck is in pressing position. As before explained, the yoke of a shirt on the buck is twoply. Accordingly, the heated air from tank 129, being additionally heated' in auxiliary tank 143', subjects said yoke to inwardly applied pressing heat that is greater than that applied to the single-ply sides of said shirt. It is a: simple' matter, therefore, to regulate thev heated air in tubular member 77 relative to that in the tubular membersv 72 to achieve proper pressing of the sides and poke ofa shirt in the same time.

When'. the buck-mounted' carriage is propelled by the means 26.y fo'pres'sing position, the means 30 is actuated by the carriage as the same arrives atpressing position to release. from the heated' air supplying means a relatively" small? amount of air that has the purpose of distending tubular members 72 and 77 so that creases and wrinklesin the sides andyoke of the shirt are removed. Said means 30 (see Fig.' l0) comprises a cam `147 on the carriage' body 56, a bellcrank lever 148 on a. pivot 149 in a bracket 15'0v aixed to one member 45 of the machine frame, a roller' 151 on the end of one arm of said' lever' and in the' path of movement of cani. 147, and a piston valve'lSZ, carried by said' bracket, operable bythe other arm of said lever when. rocked on its pivot by said cam. The hereinafter description of control system 36` will disclose how operation of said valve 152 causes'imovem'ent of vane 1'32" from' the position closing outlet 128"v to position 132a' in' which said outlet' is` partly opened.

The means 31, shown best in Fig. l0, comprises an air, cylinder 153 that is mounted'on bracket 150 and is controlled by valve 152. Said cylinder has a projectable stem 154 on the end of vwhich is carried a locking dog 155 which, from la retracted position, is projected bchind roller 66 on carriage 22 as the latter arrives at pt position. A roller 156 guides dog 155 and an adju le stop k1571imits the projected position of said Cam; al will be later seen, return of said dog to retracted position is eected by spring 158.

The .pressing platens` 32 are substantially alike except that one of them is provided with an upper notch 159 to accommodate the collar rclamp 79 and tube 78 on the buck. Each platen, as best seen in Fig. 9, is interi- Orly rhollow to receive steam as through an inlet 160 (Fig. l). These platens are flat and at least large enough in both dimensions to eiect pressing engagement with the-front and back of a shirt draped on padded core 67. InpractiCg-.the side portions of the platens ovcrstand tubular members 72 and the upper portions overstand tubular member 77 so as to press against the fronts and backsof said tubular members while the same are indated.Y Such pressure attens said members 72 and 77 as permitted by the elasticity of the air therein and further improves the ironing effect on the sides and yoke of a shirt on the buck.

Each platen 32 is mounted on two pairs of links 161 pivotally mounted at-162 on vertical frame members 44 and pivotally connected to said .links at 163. The platens hangfon said links 161 and normally are separated, because of their pendent mount, to provide ample space to receive buck 24 between them, as shown in Fig. 6. Each platen is provided with an outer rigidifying frame 164 and with a pair of vertically disposed outwardly extending plates 165, preferably positioned midway between the sides edges of the platen and axed to said frame .164.y

Themeans 33 to move the platens 32 into pressing engagement with the buck is best seen in Figs. 1, 7 and 8. Since said means is substantially the same for each platen, onlyone need be described.

The means 33 comprises an air cylinder 166, mounted on member 45 of the frame, and provided with a piston 167 that is upwardly projectable by compressed air, as will later be described. A stem 168 of said piston extends upwardly and mounts a cam 169. One side of said cam is llat and engaged with guide rolls 170 mounted on member 45 of the frame. The opposite side of said cam is engaged by a cam roll 171 carried by and between plates 165 of the platen. Said latter side of the camhas a rise 172 that is quite abrupt and a more gradual rise 173 extending from rise 172.

When the cam is retracted, platen 32 may hang pendent on its links 161 with cam roll 171 engaged against the low part of rise 172. As the cam is upwardly projected, abrupt rise 172 will quickly move the platen into light engagement with buck core 67. Then, as the more powerful gradual cam rise 173 engages roll 171, as in Fig. 8, substantial force is applied to press the platen tightly against the padding of said buck core. Upon retraction of said cam 169, the platen will gravitationally fall toward the pendent position of Fig. 6. In order that such fall not be free with possible resulting damage to the parts, a friction drag snubs the fall to make the same more gradual. Such a drag is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprises a pair of brake shoes 174, engaged with a stud 175 on platen plates 165, and pivotally mounted at 176 on frame members 45. The drag of the brake shoes l74lmay be regulated by a spring 177.

lt will be recalled that air tube 141 normally has a retracted position to allow tube 78 to align therewith, as shown in Fig. 6. The movement of the platen that has notch 159 is utilized to move said tube 141 into and out of air-passing engagement with tube 78. To this end, tube 141 is provided with spaced lugs 178 and 179 between which is disposed a roller 180 on the end of an arm 181 pivotally carried at 182 by platen plates 165.'

, A spring 183 biases arm 181 in a direction toward lug 179 and a stop 184 limits such movement of arm 181.

When the platen 32, that mounts said arm 181, is retracted, stop 184 positions said arm so that its rolller 180 engages lug 178 to hold tube 141 retracted. As the platen is moved to pressing engagement with the buck, roller 180 on arm 181 leaves lug 178, picks up lug 179, and shifts tube 141 on its suspender' 146 in a direction to engage against the open end of tube 78. Since arm 181 is resiliently mounted, it will yield on its pivot 182 after such engagement of tubes 78 and 141 while cam rise 173 may create additional movement of the platen. Upon return to pendent position of the platen, stop 184 will cause arm 181 to re-engage lug 178 and return tube 14.1 to retracted position spaced from tube 78.

When the platens are moved to pressing position by upward projection of pistons 167 of cylinders 166, a port 185 in an vintermediate port of one of said cylinders is uncovered by its piston and allows pressure air that is projecting said pistons to operate a piston valve 186 to conduct pressure air to the means 34 that supplies heated pressing air to buck 24.

With particular reference to Figs. ll, l2 and 14, the means comprises the mentioned valve 126, an arm 187 on the shaft 133 on which the port-controlling vane 132 is mounted, a bracket 188 carried by frame members 189, a link 190 pivotally mounted at 191 to said bracket, a link 192 pivotally connected at 193 to the end of arm 187 and pivotally connected at 194 to link 190, a spring 195 exerting its force in a direction to hold links 190 and 192 in an overcenter position with respect to a straight line extending between pivots 191 and 193, a spring 196 pulling downward on arm 187 in a direction tending to straighten links 190 and 192, an air cylinder 117 having a stem 198 directed, when projected, to break the overycenter disposition of toggle links 190 and 192, and an air cylinder 199 having a stem 200 pivotally connected to arm 187. The manner of operation of this device will be explained in the description of systems 36 and 38.

The source of compressed air 35 comprises an air inlet 201 that is connected to valves 202 and 203, both of which are normally closed. Valve 202 is the valve that is opened by the operator, after buck 24 is dressed, to move the carriage to pressing position. This valve, when open, communicates air inlet 201 with piston 113, through a line 204 and with a diaphragm 205, through a line 206. The air inlet 201 has a direct connection 207 to a piston valve 208k and a direct connection 209 to a piston valve 210. Valve 203 is the control that returns the carriage to dressing position and may be either manually operated or time controlled, as desired. Said valve, when open, communicates inlet 201 with a diaphragm 211, through a line 212.

Valve 208 controls and is controlled by mechanism that includes toggle linkage 213 and said diaphragms 205 and 211. Valve 210 controls and is controlled by toggle linkage 214 and diaphragms 215 and 216.

The means 37 is similar and opposite to means 26 and comprises a cylinder 217 having a piston 218 provided with a stem 219 and a head 220 on the end of said stern.

This means is controlled by a piston valve 221 mounted on one frame member 55 and, through an actuating arm 222, the piston of said valve is controlled by a projection 223 on plates 165 of the corresponding platen 32 when the latter returns to the separated position from pressing position. l

ltoggle linkage 213 to open valve 208 so that pressure air from line 207 may be conducted, through said' valve 208, to piston valve 152 and to a similar valve 225. An air line 226 connects valve 208 to valves 152 and 225.

When the buck-mounted' carriage is propelled'by projection of piston 115 toward'pressing position, the cam 147 on said carriage operates piston valve 152', through bellcrank lever 148, to open lines 227' and228 to pressure in line 226. Line 22,7, being connectedv to cylinder 153, the pressure in said line causes projectionv of stem 154 and the locking dog 155 thereon to eifect locking of the carriage in pressing position at station 54. Since line 228 is connected to cylinder 199, simultaneously with locking of the carriage, pressure from line 226 is conducted to said cylinder by line 228 to cause projection of stem 200 of said cylinder. Because the over-centerlinkage 190, 192 is resisted by stem 198 of cylinder 117, stem 200 can move Valve arm 187 through only a relatively small arc so that valve vane 132, from the position closingout.- let 128, is moved to position'132a (Fig. l2) whereby outlet 128 is open to passage of a small amount of air compressed by compressor 120. Thus, as the buck arrives at pressing station 54, the tubular members 72 and 77 are distended to stretch out wrinkles intheshirt sides and yoke. At the instant that locking dog 155 has locked the carriage, the projection of stem 154' opens a line 229 to the pressure of line 227 and allows' such pressure to operate a diaphragm 230 that controls piston valve 225.v Since the latter valve has pressure air suppliedthereto by line causing cams 169 to move the pressing platens 32 toward Y each other and in pressing engagement with the front and back of a shirt draped on' buck 24,

A branch line 233 connects line 232 with. piston valve 186. Thus, when port 185 is opened during platenmoving projection of pistons 167, a diaphragm 234 is actuated byy air from one ofthe cylinders'ff1661y and the stern 235 of said diaphragm actuates valve 186 to open a line 236 to the pressure of branch line 233 which is connected to cylinder 117. It will be seen, therefore, that, during movement ofplatensY 32 to pressing position and before port 185 is uncovered, the'valve 126 is partly opened to supply the initial airthatv distends tubular'members 72 and '77.

When line 236 is opened to air pressure, the platens 32 are in or very close to pressing position. Thus, when lstem 198 of cylinder 117 is projected by air from said line 236, to break the toggle or over-center condition of links 190 and 192, said initial inating air is irst shut ofi as the toggle links move past their dead center and then, as the toggle folds up, the air pressure in cylinder 199 becomes effective to swing arm 187 in a direction to move van 132 to position 13217. Thus, outlet 128 is fully opened and by-pass 127 closed to conduct the entire output of the compressor 120 to tubes 58 and 78, it being realized that, at this time, said tubes have been coupled by the means 28 and 29 to the supply of heated air from tank 129 and as further heated in tank 143. The supply of heated air to tubular members 72 and 77 is continued while the platens 32 press the front and back of the shirt to effect complete ironing of the same. Since the air supplied to member 77 is hotter than the air supplied to members 72, the pressing time for the dierent portions of the shirt can be made to be the same.

When such pressing time is ended, valve 203 is opened to set system 38 into operation. Opening of line 212 to pressure from inlet line 201, causes actuation of diaphragm 211 so that its stem 237 re-sets toggle linkage 213 which operates valve 208, shutting olf air pressure in line 226 and, thereby, stopping the supply of air to valves 152 and 225. All the valves and cylinder pistons of the systems 36 and 38, except pistons 114 and 218, are either spring loaded or weighted to return to their initial positions and, when so returned, exhaust through ports' 238, Consequently, when valve` 208 is closed", valve 225 exhausts line 232' to allow pistons 167 to return' to initial position withdrawing cams 169'and allowing platens 32 to separate. At the same time, valve 152 exhausts cylinder 153 allowing spring, 158 to retract lockingdog 155 to free carriage 22.

Upon return of the platens to their initial separated position, projection 223 on one platen, through actuating arm 222, opens valve 221 to passv pressure air from line 209 through open valve 210 and, through lines 239 and 240, to cylinder 217. The resultant projection of stem 219 causes propulsion of the carriagevv from pressingv station 54-back to dressing station 53 where gripping or latch means 23 receives and'holds the carriage stationary.

As piston 218 of cylinder 217 opens a linev 241, pressure from line 240 is conducted to said line 241' to cause actuation of diaphragm 216. At the time that stern 200 was projected to fully open valve 126, valve 199' communicated line 228 with a line 242 connected lto dia'- phragm 215 which was actuated toy throw toggle 214 and open piston valve 210 to conductI pressure airy from line 209 to valve 221 by way of line 239. Therefore,

when line 241 is opened, diaphragm 216 restoresv the toggle 214 to its initial position andl closes valve 210, allowing the same to exhaust through its port 238, and shutting off the supply of' air to valve 221 and to piston pusher means 37.

In the above manner, the cycle of operation is cornpleted. Thereafter, the operator removes the pressed shirt from buck 24, replaces the same with a shirt to be pressed, and institutes the operation as before.

Thev buck 24 is shownwith flat sides which, ofcourse, may be modified tovbe convexly bowed'y and' the pressing platens 32 formed to conform thereto. Therefore, the term generally fiatas applied to the buck in the vdescription and the appended claims is intendedto include such modification of the buck.

Whilev I have illustrated and: described what If'now contemplate to be the best mode of carrying out my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to-modiiication Without departing from the spirit and scopeofv the invention. It is, therefore, not` desired to restrict' the in- Ventionto the particular form of' construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shirt-body pressing machine comprising, in cornbination, a frame having a dressing station and a pressing station, track means extending through both said stations, a carriage movable along the track means, a generally at shirt-mounting buck on said carriage, said buck being provided with air-passing inatable portions, means to move the carriage and the buck thereon from the dressing to the pressing station, a normally-closed source of heated shirt-pressing air, means to couple said source of air to the iniiatable portions of the buck when the carriage is at the pressing station, means controlled by the carriage, when the same arrives at the pressing station, to partly open said source of heated air to inate said inflatable portions and, thereby, smooth out Wrinkles in those parts of the shirt engaged over the inflatable portions, a pair of heated pressing platens at the pressing station and normally spaced to receive the buck therebetween, means to move said platens to pressing position against the front and back of the shirt disposed against the flat sides of the buck, means to simultaneously fully open said source of heated air to simultaneously subject all portions of the shirt-body engaged with the buck and with the inflatable portions thereon to the pressing heat of the heated air and of the platens, means to separate the platens after the shirt-body has been pressed, and means controlled by one of the platens as the same moves to separated position to move the car- 11 ringe and the shirt-mounting buck thereon back to the dressing station.

2. A shirt-body pressing machine according to claim l: said inatable portions comprising tubular members anking the buck and engaged by the sides of the shirt and a tubular member across the top of the boel; and engaged with the yoke of said shirt and auxiliary air heating means in the path of 'ow of heated air to the latter tubular member to provide the same with yoke-pressing air at a temperature higher than the pressing air provided in the first-mentioned tubular members.

3. A shirt-body pressing machine according to claim l: carriage-locking means, controlled by the means that partly opens the source of heated air, to hold the carriage immovable in the pressing station.

4. A shirt-body pressing machine according to claiml: treadle-operated means at the dressing station, and means mounted on the carriage and operable by said treadleop erated means to releasably clamp the tails of a shirt draped on the buck to the opposite at faces of said buck.

5. A shirt-body pressing machine according to claim 1: treadle-operated means at the dressing station, and means mounted on the carriage and operable by said treadleoperatedmeans to releasably clamp the tails of a shirt draped on the buck to the opposite flat faces of said buck, said latter means including automatic latches, and means carried by the frame to release said latches upon return of the carriage to the dressing station.

6. A shirt-body pressing machine according to claim l: means mounting the carriage for free movement along the track means in both directions, and said two carriagemoving means comprising pusher members that propel the carriage between the dressing and the pressing stations.

7. A shirt-body pressing machine according to claim 1: means mounting the carriage for free movement along the track means in both directions, said two carriagemoving means comprising pusher members that propel the caniage between the dressing and the pressing stations, and a latch to grip and hold the carriage immovable while at the dressing station.

8. A machine for pressing shirt bodies and the like, said machine comprising, in combination, a frame having a dressing station at one end and a pressing station at the opposite end, horizontal, straight track means extending through and between the stations, hollow buck means adapted to mount a shirt body and movable along the track means between said two stations, means to move the buck means from one station to the other, said latter means located at each end of the track means and being opposed to each other, means to operate said opposed means alternately to move the buck means along the track means first in one direction and then in the other, a normally-closed source of heated. shirt-pressing air, means to couple said source of air to the buck when the carriage is at the pressing station, a pair of pressing platens at the pressing station and normally spaced to receive the buck therebetween, and means to move the pressing platens to pressing position against the front and back of a shirt draped on said buck means.

9. A machine for pressing shirt bodies and the like, said machine comprising, in combination, a frame having a. dressing station at one end and a pressing station at the opposite end, horizontal, straight track means extending through and between the stations, hollow buck means adapted to mount a shirt body and movable along the track means between said two stations, means to move the buck means from one station to the other, said latter means located at each end of the track means and being opposed to each other, means to operate said opposed means alternately to move the buck` means along the track means rst in one direction and then in the other, normally-closed source of heated shirt-pressing air, means to couple said source of air to the buck when the carriage is at the pressing station, the buck means being provided with inflatable portions, means controlled by the buck means, when at the pressing station, to partly open said air source to cause inflation of the inflatable portions for smoothing wrinkles in parts of the shirt body engaged over said portions, a pair of pressing platens at the pressing station and normally spaced to receive the buck therebetween, means to move the pressing platens to pressing position against the front and back of a shirt draped on said buck means, and means to simultaneously fully open said source of air to subject all portions of the shirt body engaged with the buck means to the heat of said air.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,373 Rawlinson et al May 6, 1941 2,327,492 Braun Aug. 24, 1943 2,395,466 Couch Feb. 26, 1946 2,483,812 Davis et al Oct. 4, 1949 2,698,705 Hitz Jan. 4, 1955 

